Choosing Your Wedding Photographer

For us at Peony & Penny, the photographer is right up there in the things you want to get right for your wedding day.

They will be capturing the day you have spent months, maybe years, planning and you’ll hopefully be too busy having the best day ever to concentrate on the finer details so you’ll be relying on your photographer to capture those moments and details you’d otherwise miss.

So, how do you choose from the endless choice of amazing photographers out there?

1. Look at the styles of photography that you are drawn to

Do you want a more relaxed, reportage type of wedding album where your photographer captures the day as it naturally unfolds or do you want a more structured set of shots with plenty of group shots and more posed images?

Have a look at photographers own websites, blogs and Instagram pages and get a feeling for the type of images you like. You’ll find that photographers will edit their shots with their own distinct style. See what tones you’re drawn to: do you like the dark & atmospheric shots or do you prefer the more light & airy shots? Do you love the more traditional images or do you imagine your day being remembered in a more fun & quirky style?

2. Experience

There’s a lot to be said for getting an experienced wedding photographer. They know exactly how to get the shots they envision almost as if it’s a part of their natural instinct, which it may well be! It’s an added bonus if they’ve shot at your venue but don’t be put off if they haven’t as an experienced photographer will know exactly what to do once they see the place.

That being said, you may want to give an up and coming photographer a chance and, in doing so, may grab a bargain in the process! One of the best wedding albums we’ve seen was by a photographer who was shooting their first wedding. Still, it’s important to see a portfolio of their work to see if you like their style and also meet with them to discuss how they aim to go about shooting your day.

You’ll be surprised the importance of a photographer in navigating the order of your day so don’t underestimate the importance of getting someone you can rely on to take control!

3. Budget

Like with any of your suppliers, get a couple of quotes from photographers whose work you love the look of. Compare prices and packages to see how they compare to your budget and how they compare with each other. If you absolutely love their work and they are slightly out of your price range then sit down and move stuff around so that you can afford them! This is definitely one of those things that you should prioritise! The one thing from my own wedding that I am so glad we invested in is the photographer. She captured our day perfectly and we now have those images to look back on forever. She was worth every penny!

There’s no getting around the fact the photographer may very well be one of the biggest expenses of your day so it’s important to know that you’re getting good value for your money. On the other hand, its important to keep in mind just how much work the photographer puts into being able to provide the amazing photos you’re hiring them for: from having the equipment to take photos, being able to travel to & from the venue and the time spent editing the hundreds of photos they’ve taken after the day has happened! On the whole, photographers are well worth the money that they are charging.

3. Meet with them

It may not be possible to meet face-to-face with your photographer due to location but it should be easy enough to arrange a Skype or FaceTime session. You will be spending A LOT of time with them on the day so it’s important to see if you all click. Most photographers will try to inject as much of their personality in the shots they share and on their website so it’s a good chance that if you’ve loved looking at their work then you’ll love them.

Use the meeting to make sure you’re all on the same page (re group shots, time you will be spending away from your guests etc). By now you should know what package they are offering but make sure you confirm any details you are unsure of. Questions you may want to ask include:

How much time do they aim to spend at your day?

Do they have a back up plan in case of illness, equipment failure etc?

How do they deal with poor weather?

Do they have insurance?

More often than not, once you meet with the photographer, you will know if they’re the one for you or not. Go with your gut. You need to be able to put your trust in them and have faith that they’ll do an amazing job for you both. Once you find a photographer that makes you feel like you’ll be counting down the days like a kid at Christmas until you receive your wedding album then amazing! Get them booked in!